WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #20-42
NEW EMERGENCY COORDINATOR APPOINTED FOR POLK COUNTY ARES
On Wednesday July 29, 2020, Christine Duez K4KJN was appointed as ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Polk County ARES. Duez succeeds Jim Stewart W4XDS who had stepped down as ARRL Emergency Coordinator on June 30, 2020 due to family commitments.
Duez was first licensed in July 2012 with the callsign of KK4KJN and upgraded to Extra class in 2013. Duez applied for and was giver her current vanity callsign of K4KJN in 2019. Duez has been active in Polk County ARES almost since being first licensed, and was appointed as an Assistant Emergency Coordinator for SKYWARN. Duez has served as a control operator in the Polk County EOC for two activations, the most recent of them being Hurricane Irma in September 2017. In addition to her responsibilities with Polk County ARES, Duez has served as Section Youth Coordinator since 2015 and is the Saturday evening net control for the Eagle Net, the NTS traffic for the ARRL West Central Florida Section.
Darrell Davis KT4WX, Section Manager for the ARRL West Central Florida Section, made the following statement about the appointment of Duez as ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Polk County ARES, “Christine has the experience and good leadership skills to make her an excellent ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Polk County ARES. She also the advantage of being a good public speaker but also has the heart of a servant, an excellent combination.”
Effective leadership often requires more than just experience and good communication skills. It also involves a commitment to serving others and a willingness to continuously improve and learn. Fortunately, there are many free tools and services available to help leaders develop them. From leadership training programs to mentorship opportunities, these resources can help aspiring leaders hone their skills and become more effective in their roles. By taking advantage of these resources, leaders like Christine Duez can continue to grow and develop in their positions, ultimately benefiting their organizations and the communities they serve.
Duez in her professional career, served in numerous capacities as an American Sign Language interpreter since 1989 and holding certification with the national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf since 1989. Duez has obtained an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences during her professional career and recently retired from the Polk County School District as an ASL interpreter for Southwest Middle School in Lakeland. Duez still does part time work as an ASL interpreter in retirement. Duez other interests include playing the piano for the Spanish ministry of her church, participation in Toastmasters (an organization that helps people build leadership and public speaking skills), continuing work on her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, growing flowers at home, and traveling.
END OF PRESS RELEASE